Tasty Thursdays - Whole Wheat Bread

Is there anything better than the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven?

No wonder grocery stores pump the smells from their bakery outside the building to tempt you inside!

Making bread is not that labour intensive when you use a bread machine to make the dough. I don't like the shape of the loaves that come out of the bread machine so I bake the loves in the oven myself.

Sadly, I have not yet mastered the perfect sandwich bread shape. If you know the secret, please let me know!

This recipe makes two loaves of bread.

Whole Wheat Bread (bread maker recipe)
1 3/4 cups warm water
1 egg
1/2 cup butter (I use heart healthy olive oil)
2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar (I use honey)
2/3 cup powdered milk
4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp yeast

Add items in order listed to bread machine. Run machine on the dough setting. Once the dough is done, divide into two and knead each piece of dough a few times. Form into a ball/ loaf shape. Place in greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour until loaves fill the pans. Remove towel and bake at 350 for 30 minutes (I don't bother preheating the oven).

Dream Big Canada Win a $10,000 Vacation courtesy of CentrSource

Where in Canada would you go if you had a $10,000 travel budget?

I would visit the East Coast as I have never been there. Then I would hop on a train and take a scenic train tour all the way to the West Coast.

To enter for your chance for a dream vacation in Canada, visit CentrSource's Dream Big Canada contest website.

There are 8 weekly draws as well worth $500 (gift cards) and the contest is open to ALL Canadians (age of majority please) - even in Quebec!

Share the contest with friends and family and earn extra entries.

Contest closes Dec. 11, 2011. Travel must be between Jan.1 , 2021 and Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expresses are my own

Seventh Generation wants you to give back - Buy On Give One

Giving really is better than receiving.

I recently had the chance to donate 4 packages of diapers to a charity of my choice thanks to Seventh Generation.

When given the opportunity to bless a family in need, I felt the need to choose a Christian organization.

I choose to give the diapers to a small church that focuses on outreach - "being the hands and feet of Jesus" and "loving thy neighbour" in very practical ways. The church works with those in need in their own community as well as abroad (eg. they are taking a trip to the Dominican Republic in the near future to help residents there. Some of the diapers will be making the trip there). I know the ministry staff will ensure the diapers will get to someone in the greatest of need.

As a mother, I cannot imagine how it must feel to struggle to provide even the simplest of necessities (i.e. diapers) to my children.

Seventh Generation is aiming to donate 240,000 diapers to 40 shelters in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. They are also encouraging parents to visit their local store and "Buy One Give One" Seventh Generation diapers to support families in their own community.

This whole process has got me thinking ahead to Christmas. With all the blessings that I already enjoy, instead of "receiving" gifts this year, I am going to encourage my loved ones to take the money they would have spent on me and donate it in my name.


Others are in greater need than I.


It truly is better to give than receive.

 Disclosure – I am participating in the Seventh Generation program by Mom Central Canada.  I received compensation as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Seventh Generation plus Giveaway!

When you have kids, your thinking changes. For instances, more thought is given to what is introduced to the home. What is it made of? Can it be harmful?

I would love to say that I make all our own cleaners, use cloth diapers and live a completely green lifestyle. Ideally, I would. I would love to do all those things but I, sadly lack the time to do so.

Thankfully, with products from Seventh Generation, I can feel good about the household cleaners, laundry detergent and baby products I expose my kids to.

Have you ever been using a cleaner and felt the burn in your eyes and the back of your throat while using it? Can you imagine what those fumes can do to a small child's body? Seventh Generation Free and Clear products are tough on stains yet are non toxic and create no harsh fumes!!

Check out Seventh Generation website and join the 7th Gen nation to learn more about green living and find coupons and special offers. 

Want to try them for yourself? On luck winner with get a Seventh Gen Eco lunch bag and Coupons were provided by Seventh Generation. Simply comment below with your best tip on how to be more environmentally conscious. Open to Canadians residents only. Giveaway ends Sept. 16th, 2011 at 10pm Central time.

Extra entries (each requires a separate comment)

1. Follow me on Twitter! see side bar button 
2. Subscribe to this blog 
3. Become a public follower 
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave the link in the comments

Disclosure – I am participating in the Seventh Generation program by Mom Central Canada.  I received compensation as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own. 

Cleaning as Therapy

 

 It's been one of those days around the Roost where I just want to scream "QUIET!"

H has been her usual chatty self talking not stop All. Morning. Long.

J has been in a funk whining about every little thing and nothing would make him happy. Guess that's what happens after the age of 2.

The noise level - though not loud - may make my ears bleed.

After a failed attempt at lunch, I tucked into bed for a nap, set H up for some quiet TV time before her nap and hid in the kitchen to tidy up the few dishes from lunch and to sweep the floor.

Know what I noticed? The quiet - precious wonderful quiet.

For those that know me, cleaning is not one of my favourite activities. That is why I HEART my cleaning lady so much when she visits every two weeks. Rather than stressing about the deep cleaning, she takes care of it and I get to spend more time with my kids.

But today as I washed those few dishes and swept the kitchen floor in peace, I felt my tense muscles and busy mind relax.

Cleaning as Therapy - who knew?